Don’t Be a Substitute for the Dark Godfather

Carlisle Percy said that the day he became the Godfather would be the day he married me.

I gritted my teeth through the pain as I dug the bullet out of my arm, wrapped the wound like I always do, and by the time I finished, I was drenched in sweat.

I had secretly taken care of the last competitor ten minutes ago.

I went back to the dessert shop and hid the ring I'd been designing for over a month inside a strawberry mousse cake.

Carlisle loved the cakes I make. Tonight I'm going to propose to him—I can't wait for him to marry me anymore.

"One strawberry mousse cake, please hurry."

I looked up at the customer who just walked in, then quickly looked down, afraid she'd recognize me.

It was my stepsister, Carina.

"We're closed. No more cakes today."

Carina pointed at the cake I had just packed. "There's one right there. I'll take it. I'll pay you double."

I was about to refuse when Carina's phone rang. "Honey, why aren't you back yet? Our son's getting impatient."

Carina put the money on the counter, grabbed the cake, and left. I didn't stop her.

Because I saw who she was video calling—it was my fiancé, Carlisle.

My blood ran cold. My injured arm wouldn't stop shaking.

Was it really Carlisle? Or just someone who looked like him?

Without thinking twice, I got in my car and followed Carina.

The car drove into a villa complex that Carlisle's company had developed and built.

There's a beautiful lake nearby. I once asked Carlisle to save one villa as our wedding home, but he said the villas sold too well—they were all gone.

Back then, he said, "Morrigan, I'll design a house just for you. It'll be our fortress of love."

But I'd been waiting ten years for this fortress, and there was still not even a blueprint.

Carina's car stopped in front of the biggest villa. I parked at a distance and pulled out my binoculars.

As soon as Carina got out, the door opened. A three or four-year-old boy rushed into Carina's arms, followed by a man in casual home clothes.

My heart felt like it had been hit with a sledgehammer. I knew this man all too well—it really was Carlisle.

"Honey, our son's been waiting forever. He's been begging for strawberry cake."

I could read lips. Carlisle pulled them both into his arms and kissed Carina on the lips. What a warm family scene.

A woman in her fifties appeared in the house. When I saw her face, I couldn't control my shock anymore and collapsed in my seat.

It was my stepmother, Emma. She was alive!

Carlisle once told me he killed Emma himself. He even showed me her severed arm with the ring still on it, just to make me believe him.

And it was all a lie.

When I was five, Emma and her daughter moved into our house and drove my mother to her death.

When I was eighteen, and my father died, she kicked me out.

I had nothing and survived by picking through trash.

I found Carlisle in a garbage dump. He was badly injured, and I hid him.

"You saved my life. Come with me, I'll give you a way to survive. Tell me what you want, and I'll make it happen as payment."

"I hate my father and his current wife. They drove my mother to her death. My father's already dead, but that woman took all his money and kicked me out. I want her dead."

Carlisle took my hand. "I'll get revenge for you myself. And you—you'll be my sharpest sword, helping me become Godfather from the shadows."

I would never forget those bottomless eyes of his. I believed him.

I was such a fool.

I took out my phone and called Carlisle. I still couldn't accept it.

The phone rang for a long time before he finally answered, his voice cold.

"I'm in a meeting. Make it quick."

"Carlisle, is Emma really dead?"

He was silent for only two seconds. "Of course. Why would I lie to you? I have to go."

I watched Carlisle hang up and happily lift the child in the air.

Tears finally fell uncontrollably. I picked up my phone again and dialed another number.

"Interested in working together? You may be an illegitimate son, but if you become Godfather, no one will dare look down on you anymore."